Earth Friendly

Election time will be here before you know it. Have you registered to vote yet? If you haven’t, you should definitely get yourself registered before it’s too late. An easy way to register is to go through Rock the Vote . You enter in basic information, which is pretty simple so the excuse that “the forms are too long” is not a valid excuse. Even if you don’t know who to vote for, you still have time to do research on the candidates and make an informed decision. In case you are wondering which candidate is for environmental issues, check out my post on the politics of green issues .

The days are starting to get shorter and shorter. Before we know it, there will be darkness at 4:30 pm. I have to say that’s the worst feeling when you wake up to darkness, go to work and leave work in darkness. You wonder where the day has gone and why you feel like going to bed so early. And there is another reason to appreciate those long summer days, because it meant that you didn’t have to use electricity until 8 or 9 pm. For now, while the sun is still out in the late afternoon, let in the light and reduce the amount of electricity you use.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve come to the realization that material possessions are just things. Plus, everything is temporary, and I’m pretty sure you can’t take your Louis Vuitton with you when you die. Trust me, I understand the immediate satisfaction that comes from owning a Coach handbag and the allure of find fabric, but it all comes down to the question: Do you really need it? I spent my late teen years shopping like there was no tomorrow. Why you ask, because I could. Now that I’m older, I have a closet chock full of shoes and clothes. I haven’t purchased any new clothing because of it. While there are organic cottons and animal free shoes out there, there’s no point in consuming if you’re trying to conserve.

So my three cats tend to stink up the house from time to time, which is normal and healthy, I guess. However, I change the litter box almost every day, and while I love my cats, this is not one of the joys of being a cat owner. Mostly I use clay cat litter, but I recently found a litter that takes the smell away and lasts a little longer. It’s called Essentials from Arm & Hammer, and it’s more absorbent. A good thing for the environment is that it’s made from biodegradable corn fibers. It seems pricey for the small bag, but the bag lasts me about two weeks, if I divide the bag in two and scoop the clumps daily. I think before I was going through a bag every week.

I took this picture when I visited the Pittsburgh zoo this year. I thought it was a clever sign they put up. They had an interesting setup for the polar bears, because there was a tunnel you could stand in and look up to see the bears swimming in the water. Unfortunately, the day I went the polar bears were walking around and didn’t seem interested in swimming.
If this eco pic didn’t make you giggle and you think you have better ones, send them to catseyeediting@yahoo.com. Remember, they have to be related to environmental or animal issues. If you have an interesting way of composting, gardening, conserving, etc., send in your pic.

I recently had my last wisdom tooth extracted, and trust me when I say that I’m glad it’s over. Tip: Have your wisdom teeth taken out ASAP! While it was not the worst experience of my life, it was not fun. After the first day, my mouth was too swollen to eat any solid foods so I resorted to protein mixes. The ones with spirulina mix well with soy milk, especially if you a Blender Bottle. Anyway. By the second day, I was starving for solid food. I was even hungry for meat, which I haven’t experienced that craving in quite a while. However, I think my experience goes to show that when you eat a balanced vegetarian/vegan diet, you most likely will not crave meat. Just a thought…I seem to crave meat when I haven’t eaten enough food during the day.

Politics are important in our world, and even though I know this I still don’t enjoy sorting out all of the information. I dislike the months leading up to the election, because new information about the candidates comes out on a daily basis. Plus, you can’t seem to avoid all of those commercials, which become a way for the candidates to attack each other. By the time elections come, I’m usually not that happy with the behavior of either candidate. Anyway, there is a website that provides a listing of all of the green issues and where each candidate stands on them. I highly suggest you check it out, because it’s easy to understand and not intimidating like some of the information you get from newspapers and other media outlets.

The North Shore Animal League America rescued 79 animals from Hurricane Gustav, and some of the animals are already ready for adoption. The kittens and puppies that they have pictures of on their site are adorable. Giving these animals a home is a great idea if you want to make an addition to your family. Or you can give a pet to someone as a gift, but make sure they want one and can have one where they live. These animals went through quite an experience. Now all they need is a loving home where they can feel safe and loved again.

Before we know it, there will be frost on the ground when we wake up in the morning and the air will be cold enough to warrant a jacket. Before it’s too late, purify your home so it’s organized and clean for the new season. Although it’s hard work that’s not fun, it will all be worth it in the end.

Start by cleaning one room each day. Wash the baseboards, fabric and floors with eco-friendly cleaners. Then go through your belongings and create a recycle pile, a sell pile and a throw away pile. Take the recyclables to a local Goodwill and sell the other stuff by having a garage sale. Be thoughtful when you’re going through things.

What you will be left with is a lot more than what you had before the cleaning, because you will have extra cash in your pocket and a clean house.

The Humane Society is looking for people to host a Humane Bloc Party for the animals on Sunday, October 19. The purpose of this party is to increase awareness and gain support for animal issues before the November election. If hosting a party for the animals’ sake isn’t enough to motivate you to email invitations and whip up appetizers, take into consideration that the HSUS will be flying a person to Washington, DC. The host to collect the most money for the fundraising effort will be able to participate in the 2009 Taking Action for Animals Conference, which will be held July 24-27.